Window-shade-trimmer.



C. W.VDAWSON. WINDOWSHADE TBIMMBR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1909.

Patented Aug. 22', 1911.

v2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

| ilulluumcm uw o. W. DAWSON.

WINDOW SHADE TRIMMER.

APPLICATION IKILED MAR. 20, 1909.

v Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

v NVENTOR.'

WITNESSES pr s CHARLES W. DAVVSON,` OF DAYTON, OHIO.

WINDOW-SHADE TRIMMER.

Application iled March 20, 1909. Serial No. 484,637.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GHARLns lV. DAW- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window- Shade Trimmers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a window shade trimmer 7; and while the device is more especially designed and intended for the purpose of trimming or cutting down to the proper width window shades and wall papers when rolled up, it will become apparent and be obvious to all that the device may be of various styles and dimensions, according to the articles to be Acut or trimmed, and may also be large and powerful enough--in like manner-to cut down awnings and their poles to the desired dimensions; also, that while said y device is herein illustrated and described as being constructed so as to be operated by hand, it will be obvious that with very slight and minor changes, all within th-e scope and spirit of the invention and without departing from the principle of the same, said device can readily be constructed so as to be operated by power instead of by hand.

Some of the principal objects of this invention consist in producing a handy device for readily trimming or cutting the ordinary window shades and their rollers so as to properly fit windows of much smaller widths; also to provide a device of this* kind that will cut a straight, clean, even edge. Further objects are to produce a device of this kind that is composed of few parts; is simple in construction and will need very little if any repairs; and one which can be manufactured at a very small cost.

The invent-ion consists essentially-referring briefly and in general terms to the del vicein the very peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination of the various mechanical elements or parts, as will be hereinafter described in detail and set forth in the subjoin'ed claims, in accordance with the statutes in such cases made and provided therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention and constituting a formal part of this specification, and wherein the same letters and numerals of reference are used to indicate or point out the same parts wherever occurring throughout the several viewsz-Figure 1 is a plan view of the device in position about to be operated; Fig. 2 is a side elevationof same in operative position; Fig. 3 is a front end view with the knife or cutter out of operative position. Fig. 4 is a rear end view partially in section-taken on line y-g/ of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the revolving head-taken on line ,ef-z of Fig. t. Fig. 6 is a side view partially broken away and in section of the swivel end of the retaining lever. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the knife or cutter, the knife-arm and clamp holding same. Fig. 8 is a side view of the knife or cutter, the clamp and a broken away portion of the armshowing. the stop for said knife connected thereto; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a broken away section of the gage-arm and the gage c'arried by same. y.

In describing my said invention specifically, and referring in detail to the different and various mechanical parts or elements of construction of my window shade trimmer, as shown throughout the several views of the drawings and designated `by means of the lletters and numerals of reference as aforesaid; A is the gage-arm,--preferably supported atone end by means of a small foot a-as seen in Figs. 1 and 2;-butin some instances ,if so desired said foot may be dispensed with and this end of said gagearm supported by any convenient form of rest desired; the .opposite end of said arm being connected at b to the trough lshaped body B of the device, which is supported by means of feet c, which are preferably intended in practice to be screwed to a counter or table the same as foot a.

The window shade to be trimmed or cut, for the purpose of reducing the same tothe desired width for the window required, 1s placed in a rolled condition Iin body B; as more particularly indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2; the spring end of roller of course being placed to rear and extending just over the gage-arm, so as to rest in the forked or bifurcated portion Z of gage D, the slotted end cl of said gage receiving in its slot the flat spindle 15, thus forming a bearing for this end of said roller when adjusting same to the proper width the shade is to be cut or trimmed at the opposite end. Said gage as shown is adjustably mounted on said gage-arm and is provided with a set-screw e for retaining same in position, also a gib e of ordinary construction,-as a bearing for the set-screw. Lever F, as fully shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, has hinged thereto at f the short extension 16 of retaining member or clamp g, which is the same length and of similar contour to trough-shaped body B,-thus adapting it to snugly fit over and rest on said rolled sha'de, clamping and retaining same firmly in position therein, by reason of the operator simply grasping said lever in one hand and throwing it over or swinging it from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3; by reason of said lever having a detachably hinged and swiveled connection at g2 with arm 17 extending from said body of the device.

As fully shown in detail in Fig. 9,-in which instance for an example a' window shade supposed to be 38 inches wide it is desired instead should be only 36 inches to it a window; the shade and roller being in the posit-ion shown and just described, gage D by means of its set screw and gib is now moved forward on the gage-arm-the latter, if so desired, having marked thereon inches and fractions thereof similar to a' yard stick-until the indicating edge Z2 of said gage rests over the 36 inch mark on said arm ;-it being here explained, however, that said 36 inches are here indicated only as a record of the width the shade is to be when cut, and solely as directions for guiding the operator, and are two inches less than the actua-l distance or space to the knife as indicated, these two inches of the shade also the if of an inch extension of the roller being the distance or space from indicating edge 0Z2 back to the slotted end Z of said gage, and when measured from this latter point forward to the knife or cutter Zr, will be the true distance of 36 inches desired and recorded at said indicating edge; while the remaining 2 inches of shade to be cut Vfrom the 38 inches at the opposite end and balance of rollen-extends over and forward of said knife or cutter. In other words the gage is to be moved and set on said arm so that its indicating edge Z2 will rest over the number indicating the inches or fractions thereof the width of the shade is to be when cut, and the space from the slotted end of said gage to the knife will be the actual or true width of said shade when cut.

Knife or cutter 71; rests in the recess in knife-arm K and is adjustable by means of a slot-as shown in dotted lines-which receives set-screw Z of said arm (see Figf?) to allow of said knife being raised, to offset any reduction by sharpening, or when worn down yfor any other reason; said set-screw also holding the knife-clamp Z in position in said recess. Said knife-arm is also further provided with a knife-stop Z2 adjustably connected thereto by means of screws as fully shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of regulating the depth of the knife cut.

Knife-arm K is movably connected at m to the revolving-head, and at its opposite end is provided with a spring n which is detachably connected at n to offset n2 of said revolving-head; while arm 0 of said head has movably connected to it at o lever P provided with the crank-handle 79, and at its opposite end p with a semi-circular recess or concavity, which is adapted to engage and rest firmly over and impinge and bear against the lug or stop 702 of the knifearm, when in the act of forcing said arm down to the position shown in Fig. 3-by means of its movable bearing at m and the expansion of spring n; while one of the stops p2 of said lever will now 'rest and firmly bear in recess 02 of arm o adapted to receive it (see dotted lines Fig. 3).

When it is desired to operate the device, lever F is brought Vover from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shownin Figs. 2 and 3, and the retaining'v membery firmly clamps the rolled shade in said trough shaped body, by reason of the operator grasping and bearing down upon said lever with his left hand, as heretofore fully described; and lever P, by reason of its crankhandle being grasped by the right hand of the operator, and through the medium of its movable connection at 0, will be turned from its vertical position shown in Fig. 3 and just described to the horizontal position shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4, and spring n will now contract and raise the knife-arm to a horizontal position until the rolled shade rests against the cutting edge of said knife, extending forward of same the 2 inches to be removed; and lever P which now practically forms a horizontal continuation of the knife-arm, by means of the lower stop p2 of said lever bearing up against the base of arm o-(see Fig. 4). The device being secured to the counter or table, so that all parts beyond and forward of the front feet will eX- tend over and clear -of said counter or table so that all movable parts will clear same when operated, and by turning the crankhandle down from right to left the knifearm, which is now a horizontal continuation of lever P, will be turned and with yit the knife or cutter through the medium of revolving-head Q, to which said arm is connected at m also by spring mand said knife as it passes and circles around the end of said rolled shade will cut off or sever it down to the roller,-the two inches it is desired to remove. Revolving-head Q, as more fully shown in Figs. 4 and 5, has the rear face l of its front section recessed so that when its back section g is connected to it by screws at g-after said recessed port-ion rests over the stationary-head R, which is securely bolted at 1 to the front standard of said troughshaped body-there Will be left a groove or channel at s as shown by dotted lines in Fig. t and indicated by solid lines in Fig. 5, which permits said revolving-head to smoothly turn and revolve around said stationary-head which forms a bearing for same. The shade having now been reduced in widt-h as desired, to shorten the length of the roller proportionately simply place the blade of a saw against saw guide or bearing S, which is detachably secured at t to the front section of the revolving-head, and saw ofi the end of the roller, then replace the metallic end having the round spindle 18 on cut or new end of roller, then turn the parts of the device back to the position shown in Fig. 3 as heretofore fully described, and move lever F and the retaining member or clamp back to the position shown in Fig. l.

Having now described my window shade trimmer; l claim as my invention l. A trimmer for window shades, provided With a gage for supporting the shade and its roller, also for gaging the width of the shade to be out; a suitably supported body adapted to receive said shade and roller; a lever for retaining said shade and roller in position in said body; a stationaryhead carried by said trimmer; a revolvinghead carried by said stationary-head; a spring controlled arm carried by said revolving head; a cutter adjustably mounted upon said arm; and means for operating said revolving-head.

2. A device for trimming window-shades comprising,-a means for gaging the width of the shade to be trimmed; a support for said gaging means; a concaved body for re- I ceiving the shade and roller; a clamp to rest over said shade and roller for firmly retaining same in position in said body; a lever having a hinged connection with said clamp and a swiveled connection with said concaved body; a stationary-head connected to the device; a sectional revolving-head carried by said stationary-head and provided with a groove for adapting it to be revolved around said stationary-head; a spring controlled arm connected to said revolvinghead; an adjustable knife carried by said arm; and means for operating said revolving-head and throwing said knife in and out of engagement with said shade.

3. The combination in a window-shade trimmer, of a gage-arm having mount-ed thereon a gage provided with a slotted end; a trough shaped body to whichsaid gagearm is connected; a vretaining member adapted to rest over said body and clamp the shade and roller therein; a lever hinged t-o said retaining member and having a swiveled connection with said body; a stationaryhead of an approximate U shape, carried by said trimmer to facilitate the placing of the shade and roller in position; a revolvinghead of an approximate U shape formed with a groove and carried by said stationaryhead; a cutter-arm carried by said revolving-head; a cutter adjustably mounted upon said arm; and a crank and lever for operating said revolving-head and cutter.

In testimony whereof I afiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. DAWSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. BAUER, W. S. RHOTEHAMEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

